Paper-feeding equipment for accounting machines



Aqg. 26, 1930. R. 2.. MULLER PAPER FEEDING EQUIPMENT FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY I? kam'ax ATTDRNEYS g- 26, 1930- R. 1.. MULLER 1,774,287

PAPER FEEDING EQUIPMENT FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed April 1926 4 Sheets-5heet 2 INVENTOR I f 420 Q 90 I 1 m4 QEEQLQEIQHQ g 7 7%fab W ATTORNEYS g- 26, 1930.v R. MULLER 1,774,287

PAPER FEEDING EQUIPMENT FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 07 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS g- 26, 1930- R. 1 MULLER 1,774,287

PAPER FEEDING EQUIPMENT FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR m BY W/ 7 Wu ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 1930 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE- ROBERT L MULLER, or nnrnorr', mrcnroan, assicnon T0 IBURROUGHS annmo MACHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 01 MICHIGAN rnrmtnnnmo mmmnnrron. accoun'rmo mcnmm Application filed April 19,

The invention relates to paper feeding equipment for accounting mac ines.

It is'desirable in certain types of'accounting machines, such as the Burroughs Moon- Hopkins billing machine, to have a record sheet on which are recorded the entries on a number of customers accounts, for example, all the entries on all customers accounts for a given month. It is also necessary to enter theseamou'nts on the individual ledger sheets .for each customer and to make out a bill or statement at the same time, together with 4 such copies as are necessary in the accounting system used. These individual ledger sheets and-accompanying papers often differ in width' from each other and from the record sheet. It is necessary to have some simple and easy way of feeding these sheets into the machine and they must also be properly collated because the ledger sheets may have. entries on them and the succeeding lines of entries must be properly spaced from those alread made. distur 7 ing the record sheet on which the entries should appear in proper spaced relation.

The present invention relates particularly to a method and apparatus for feeding sheets of different width into an accounting machine and for collating the papers while positionin them in the machine.

%he general object of the invention is to rovide an improved method and apparatus or inserting papers in an accounting machine; A more particular object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for collat; ing papers in an accounting machine. 1

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for collatin in which collating marks are printed on t e backs of the work sheets at the time entries are made thereon.

proved means for holding work papers against a platen so that, when the platen is This must be done without- 1926. Serial No. 103,185.

held back out of the way.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification and drawings.

raised to view the work, the papers will be An embodiment of the invention is shown feeding table broken away to show the parts beneath it. I

Fig. is a cross section on the line 2-2 of F1 1 withthe platen in elevated position, the

cofiating table in horizontal position, and the sheets in place preparatory to moving the platen to lowered or printing position.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig.

1 showing the platen in lowered or printing position.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing in full lines the platen and collatin table when in printing position and in otted lines the same in collating position. I

I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the paper carriage and platen mechanism with certain of the parts removed to show others more clearly. Y j I Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic section showing parts when the means for controlling the feed rollers which clamp the work sheets against 3 the platen.

Fig. 7 is a' fragmentary front elevation showing the left-hand pa er finger in position to hold the work s platen.

, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the collating table showing the manner in which the work sheets are positioned eets against the for collating them for the first line of printing.

. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the manner in which the work sheets are positioned for collating them after items have been previously printed on them.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view with some of the parts in cross section and with the work sheets broken away to more clearly show their "arrangement when inserted in the machine.

The invention is shown attached to a Burroughs Moon-Hopkins billing machine, the upper portion of the frame 1 of which is shown in Fig. 2.- This frame supports transverse guides 2 having race-ways in their upper edges for receiving ball-bearings 3 positioned between the frame guides and corresponding guides & on the traveling paper carriage, the latter having side or frame plates 5 for supporting the carriage mechanism. The paper carriage is stepped across the machine transversely and a platen feeding mechanism is provided for automatically advancing the platen, but the present specification will not be confused by describing these mechanisms in detail, reference being made to Hopkins Patent No. 1,336,90 1.

The carriage has a platen 10, whose shaft- 11 is rotatably mounted in movable side plates 12 pivoted on a shaft 13 connected by links 1 1 to a shaft 15 journaled in the side plates '5 of the carriage. This mounting of the platen permits it to be swung forward and down from the raised position shown in Fig. 2 to the printin position shown in Fig. 3 and vice versa. l% hen raised it normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 in which rollers 16 on the sides of the movable side plates 12 occupy the forward notches 17 in plates 18 on the carriage frame. It may be positioned slightly higher and farther to the rear to give a better view of the items being entered by moving the platen up and back until the rollers 16 engage in the rear notches 19 in the plate 18. This exposes the printing line on the platen more clearly.

The record sheet 20 is fed under the platen from the rear as illustrated in Fig. 2. It

passes over a guide rod 21 mounted on the arms 22 of the platen side plates 12 and around and over the platen as illustrated. For the purpose of guiding and holding it in position, sprinrr guide plates 23 are provided which are bent around'the guide rod 21, pass around the platen and are bent around a cross rod 24 mounted in arms 23 of the side plates 12. The number of record sheets used may be varied to suit the requirements, the drawings showing one, outside of which would normally be located a carbon sheet.

The individual work sheets are fed from the front as illustrated in Fig. 2 and pass under the platen and to the rear under the record sheet. A rear apron 26 supports the sheets after they pass the platen and adjustably mounted on this apron are guides 27 for guiding the sheets and for spacing the record sheet from them as shown in Fig. 2.

The papers are held in engagement with the platen by feed rollers 30, it being understood that the platen is rotated step by step during operation of the machine and that the feed rollers hold the paper in contact with the platen so that, as the latter is rotated, the paper is fed forward. A series of these feed rollers 30 is provided mounted on a shaft 31 carried by movable plates 32 pivoted on the cross shaft 33. The left-hand plate 32 has an operating or handle extension or finger piece 34; by means of which the feed rollers are moved into and out of engagement with the platen. The feed rollers are normally urged toward the platen to clamp the paper against it by springs 90 hearing against the cross shaft 31 carrying the rollers. Depressing the finger piece 34 causes the plates 32 to rock counterclockwise about the shaft 33 to move the rollers away from the platen against the tension of the springs. This handle may be latched in place to hold the feed rollers away from the platen to hold the parts in open throat position by means of a latch 35 pivoted on the arms 25 of the left-hand side plate 12 and having a shoulder 36 engaging over a stud 37 on handle 3&. The latch is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 38 so that, when the lever 34 is depressed, the latch snaps to position to cause the shoulder 36 to take a position above in front of stud 37 to hold the lever in depressed position with the feed rollers spaced from the platen. The latch may be released by depressing the thumb piece 39 which moves the shoulder 36 from in front of the stud 37 and permits the lever with the feed rollers to be snapped back to normal position by the springs 90 to thereby cause the feed rollers to engage the work sheets and press them against the platen. The latch also has a forward extension 10 by means of which it can be tripped, but this extension is primarily for the purpose of engaging a stop 41 on the paper carriage when an attempt is made to lower the platen when the feed rollers have not been moved into engagement with the work sheets. It will be appreciated that it would be undesirable to have the machine operated with the feed rollers away from the platen and the papers loose in the machine: Accordingly, the stop 41 has been provided which will engage the projection on the latch to arrest the platen before it has reached its printing position unless the latch has been tripped to free the lever 34 in which case it will clear the stop. An operator familiar with the machine will notice that the platen has not moved down sufficiently and will thereby be notified that the feed rollers have not been moved into engagement with the platen. Should he not notice this, the platen is nevertheless far enough removed from printing position so' that no printing action will take place and the first operation of the machine will imadjacent the feed rollers to form a surface over which the individual sheets may pass.

This apron is carried by arms 43, pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 33. It is necessary that this apron move away from the platen at the same time that the feed rollers are moved away and; for this purpose, the 1 arms 43 are provided with forwardly extending portions which are engaged by the cross shaft 31 carrying the feed rollers as the shaft moves away from the platen. This carries the apron away from the platen with the feed rollers. When the apron is returned into engagement with the work sheets with the feed rollers, it is desirable to have its front edge in close engagement with sheets and, to insure this, a spring 44 is provided which engages the front edge of the apron, surrounds the feed roller shaft 31 and 'bears against the shaft 31. r

From the above description, it will'be clear that, when the lever 34 is depressed, both the apron 42 and the feed rollers will be moved awayfrom the platen soas to give ample space for the separate sheets to be freely fed under the platen. After thework sheets are positioned, the latch 35 is tripped, whereupon the apron and the feed rollers are snapped against the work sheets to hold them in position.

After the papers have been clamped or as they are clamped against the platen the platen is lowered from the position of Fig. 2

to that of Fig. 3 by lifting the platen slightly and lowering itby means of the hand ,piece illustrated in Fig. 2. The clamping of the papers and the lowering of the platen usually take place simultaneously as the operator can very conveniently press the lever 34 with his thumb at thesame time that he grasps the hand piece 45 with his fingers.

It is desirable that the work sheets be smoothly wrapped about the platen as it is lowered andheld tightly in engagement with it particularly across the printing line and. for this purpose, two or more sets of roller devices are employed; Each set of rollers comprises a lower roller 50 and an upper roller 51 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted in a yoke piece 52 pivoted on a .bell crank lever 53 which, in turn, is pivoted on an arm 54 of an adjustable bracket clamped to the carriage frame. A spring 55 is connected to one arm 56 of the yoke, the other end of the spring being connected to the pivot of the lever The spring thus urges the yoke in'a counterclockwise direction and normally projects the lower roller farther forwardthan the upper, the position of the yoke being determined by the engagement of the arm 57 of the yoke with a stud 58 on the lever 53. The lever 53 is.

normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 59 one end of which is connected to the bracket arm 54 and the other to the forwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever. The position of the lever is determined by the engagement of itsforwardly extending arm with the under side of the bracket as illustrated in Fig. 3. The rollers 50 and 51 are thus normally urged toward the platen by the spring 59 which tends to turn the bell crank lever clockwise and the lower roller is projected farther forward than -the upper roller by the spring 55 which tends to rotate the yoke 52 counterclockwise. As the platen I paper smoothly and tightly against the platen until, when the platen is about in its printing position the upper roller engages the paper and the two hold it firmly in position with the unfed ends substantially vertical. This action wraps the paper evenly on the platen without permitting looseness or wrinkles and holds it firmly in position to permit the type to print distinctly. The pivotal mounting of the bell crank lever permits the roller device to move rearwardly to accommodate itself to different thicknesses of work sheets. The number of sets of rollers may be varied to meet the requirements for different widths of paper carriage.

As previously stated, it is necessary to properly position the separate work sheets or to collate them when inserting them in the machine. This is necessary because they often have certain items entered on them and the next series must be in proper relation to the first. This positioning must occur without disturbing the record sheet 20. In other words,'the separate sheets must be collated and inserted into the machine without disturbing the record sheet and so that they are properly coordinated with it. Y

A feeding and collating table 60 is provided comprising a flat metal table having brackets 61 projecting from its lower surface and pivoted to the carriage frame. The table may be tilted rearwardly on these pivots to the position illustrated in Fig.3, such position being determined by the engagement of the table with stops 62 on the carriage frame.

The table is balanced so that it normally ocable guides 65 are carried by the table for positioning the papers laterally.

The table has two collating marks 66 and 67 on it by means of which the work sheets are positioned. The position of these marks on the table is such that,'if the papers are positioned relative to them in the manner hereinafter describechsaid papers will be in the proper relative position totheprinting line and to the continuous record strip when the platen is moved to printing position.

The ledger and statement forms are printed with marking-lines 68 on them near the top of the sheet (Fig. 8) for positioning them for the first entry. l/Vhen the first entry is to be made, these sheets are positioned under the platen from the front with the bottom edges of the sheet fed first as illustrated in Fig. 9. The sheets are positioned with the lines 68 coincident .with the line 67 on the collating table. After the papers have been thus positioned, the latch 35 is tripped and the papers are clamped against the platen by the feed rollers after which the platen is lowered to printing position. The first series of items will then be entered at the proper distance below the heading on the form.

After a line of entries has been printed, a type 70 is operated which strikes the sheets, such type carrying a mark, preferably a short line or dash for purposes hereinafter described. The detail of how the type bar is operated need not be described here as the standard Moon-Hopkins machine is provided with a printing mechanism and the type bar 7 0 is operated in the same manner as the usual type bars.

A wide carbon sheet is located between the record sheet and the ledger sheet for making carbon impressions on the record sheet. On the back of this carbon sheet is a narrow carbon strip 71 positioned so as to overlie the edges of the ledger sheet and the sheet next to it as shown in Fig. 10, it being understood that the ledger sheet is narrower than the statement sheet below it. YVhen the type strikes the sheets, this carbon strip causes a.

collating mark to be printed on the back of the ledger sheet and the sheet next below it (Fig. 10). The number of sheets on which the mark appears can, of course, be varied to suit the requirements.

hen the ledger and statement sheets are inserted in the machine again, as for example at the beginning of the next posting, their left hand edges are positioned against the guide 65 and the collating lines are placed coincident with the line 66 on the collating table. This positions the sheets so that when they are clamped against the platen and items are entered after the platen has been lowered to printing position, these items will be in the proper position beneath the previous entries. At the end of the next posting new collating lines will be printed on the back of the sheets for use when the sheets are subsequently put into the machine. The operation is thus continuous-that is, as each series of entries are finished new collating marks are printed on the backs of the sheets to be used in the next posting. 5

It will thus be seen that a method of collating has been provided in which the sheets are positioned in front ,of a platen andrelative to a collating mark adjacent-the platen. This is done while they are being placed in feeding position. The papers are then clamped in position, moved to the printing line, items are entered, and new collating marks made on the backs of the sheets for sub sequent use. The collating occurs while the sheets are in horizontal position on a conveniently located feed table and while the sheets are free to be positioned under the platen.

As the platen is moved from its elevated to its lowered or working position it strikes the collating table and tilts it to the position shown in Fig. 3. This moves it from its position directly over the indexing strip 64; on the carriage and into a position where it will not interfere with a view of the indexing strip or with the lateral movement of the carriage. It is desirable to have the edge of the table removed from the work sheets and for this purpose an arm 75 is carried by a cross shaft 24 on the carriage. This arm carries a roller 7 7 which, as the platen carriage moves downwardly, engages a projecting member 7 8 on the collating table and tilts it to its final position against the stops 62 thereby removing its edge from the Work sheets. When the platen is raised the collating table is released and it moves to a horizontal position by gravity.

When the platen is moved to its highest position to inspect the line of entries that is being made it is desirable to have the projecting papers held back against the platen so that they will be out of the way and will not fall forward. For this purpose two fingers 80, the left one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 7, have been provided which are pivoted on-bearings 81 adjustably mounted on the cross shafts 24 and 82. The bearings are held in position by the set screws 83 and the fingers are normally held in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 5 by springs 84 connected at one end to the brackets on the bearings and at the other to the arms on the fingers. These fingers are the shape of elbow levers and the laterally projecting arms thereof have cam surfaceswhich are engaged by cams 85 carried by the rock shaft 82. This shaft is rocked by means of a finger piece or lever 86 pivoted to the handle 45, and connected by a pin and slot connection with an arm on the end of the shaft as illustrated in Fig. 5. The finger piece is positioned so that as the operator clasps the handle 45 to raise the platen carriage he also grasps this finger piece and the lifting action turns it clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5 which rocks the shaft 82 to cause the cams to engage the ends of the fingers to turn them toward each other longitudinally of the platen to the posf tion shown in Fig. 7 in which position. they are over the work sheets and serve to hold them against the platen. This action takes place Lid automaticall in the sense that the operator grasps the thumb piece at the time he lifts the carriage and it is not necessary for him to operate any separate lever to hold the paper against the laten.

The finger piece is latched in position by a latch 87 extending through a slot in the handle 45, and having a notch which engages over the edge of the slot in the handle when the finger piece 86 reaches its locked position.-

The finger pieces are thus locked in position to hold the papers against the platen. \Vhen the platen is lowered to printing'position, the

.end of this latch engages the carriage as when the platen is-raised to its elevated posi- .tion the fingers automatically move over the paper to hold it against the laten to facilitate inspection of the entries eing made.

It will be understood that the construc-.

tion shown is for purposes of illustration and that variations may be made in it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim: I

1. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from rinting position, a table mounted indepen ently of the platen for positioning papers horizontally in feeding relation to said platen,

feeding .rolls for clamping the papers to the platen while they arein horizontal position, and means for moving the platen to printing position.

2; The combination in an accounting machine of a platen adapted to be lowered to and raised from printing position, a. table for positioning papers horizontally under said platen from the front while it is raised,

feed rolls-for clamping the papers to the platen while it is raised, and means for lowering the platen to printing position.

3. The combination in an accounting machine of a rotatable platen'movableto and from printing position, feed rolls'normally urged into engagement therewith, controlling mechanism for moving the feed rolls out of engagement with the platen and for holding them in such position, a feeding and guid ing means mounted independently of the platen forpositioning worksheets horizontally between the platen andfeed rolls, said controlling mechanism having provisions for -releasing it to permit the feed rolls to clamp the sheets against the platen while they are in horizontal position, and means for movirig the platen to printing position after the papers have been clamped to it. t

4. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, a table for positioning papers horizontally in feeding relation to. said platen, feed rolls for clamping the papers to the platen while they are in horizontal posi-- tion, means for moving the platen to printing position, and means for preventing the platen from being moved to printing position when the feed rolls have not been moved to clamp the papers to the platen.

5. The combination in a machine of theclass described of a platen movable to and from printing position, movable feed rolls, controlling means for moving said rolls into and out of engagement with the platen, a

latch for holding-said means in position to hold the rolls out of engagement with the platen, and means for preventing the platen from being moved to printingv position when the latch is so holding said controlling means.

6. The combination in a machine of the class described, of a platenmovable to and from printing position, feeding rolls, controlling means for moving said rolls into and out of engagement with the platen, a latch for holding said controlling means in position to hold the rolls out of engagement with the platen, said latch being 'movable with the 1 platen as it moves to and from printing position, and means for engaging said latch to prei'ent, the platen from a being moved to printing position when it is moved with the latch holding the controlling means with the rolls out of engagement with the platen.

7. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen adapted to be lowered to and raised from printing position a table for positioning papers horizontally under said platen from the front while it is raised, feed rolls for clampin the papers to the platen while it is ralse means for lowering the platen to printing position, and means for moving the 'unfed ends of the papers to a substantially vertical position as the platen is lowered. 8, The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and. from printing position, feed rolls normally in engagement with the platen, means for holding the feed rolls out of engagement with the platen, a horizontal table in front of the platen by means of which. papers canbe positioned horizontally between the platen and the feed rolls and clamped against the feed rolls by releasing the feed roll holding means, means 'for moving the unfed ends of the paperto ing position, means for positioning papers horizontally in feeding relation to said platen, feeding rolls for clamping the papers to the platen while they are in horizontal position, means for moving the unfed ends of said papers to substantially vertical position as the platen is moved to printing position, said last named means freeing the unfed ends of the papers as the platen is raised from printing position, and holding means operable to hold the papers in substantially vertical position relative to the platen when theplaten is raised from printing position.

10. The'combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, guiding means for'positioning papers horizontally in feeding relation to said platen, feeding rolls for clamping the papers to the platen while they are in horizontal position, means for moving the unfed ends of said papers to substantially vertical position as the platen is moved to printing position, said last named means freeing the unfed ends ofthe papers as the platen is raised from printing position, and holding means operable to hold the papers in substantially vertical position relative to the platen when the platen is raised from printing position, and means for automatically releasing the holding means when the platen is moved to printing position.

11. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, feed rolls normally in engagement with the laten, means for holding the feedrolls out of engagement with the platen, a horizontal table in front of the platen by means of which papers can be positioned horizontally between the platen and the feed rolls and clamped against the feed rolls by releasing the feed roll holding means, means for movin the unfed ends of the paper to substantial y vertical position and for holding them across the printing line .when the platen is moved to printing position, said last named means releasing the paper as the platen is moved from printing position, holding means for holding the paper in its vertical position relative to the platen when the platen is raised, and means for automatically releasing the holding means when the platen is moved-to printing position.

12. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable toand=from printlng position, feed rolls for holdin papers against said platen, means for hol ing said papers about said platen when it is in printing position so that said papers are in substantially vertical position at the front of the platen, said means being automatically disabled as the platen is moved away from printing position and automatically enabled as the platen is moved to printing position, auxiliary means operable to hold said papers about the platen when said platen is moved out of printing osition, and means for automatically disalfling said auxiliary means as the platen is moved to printing position when said first means becomes operable.

13. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen adapted to be lowered to and raised from printing position, means for guiding record sheets under said platen from the rear andaround the same and for holding said papers in engagement with the platen, a table in front of the platen for positioning work papers horizontally under said platen from the front while said record sheets remain undisturbed, feed rolls for clamping said record and said work sheets to the platen while it is out of printing position, and means for lowering the platen to printing position.

14. The combination in an accounting machine, of a rotatable platen movable to and from printing position, feeding rolls normally urged into engagement therewith, controlling mechanism for moving the feeding rolls out of engagement with the platen and holding them in such position, means for guiding a record strip under said platen from the rear and around the same while the platen is out of printing position and the feeding rolls are out of engagement with it, means for guiding work sheets under said platen from the front while it is raised and the feed rolls are out of engagement therewith, said controlling mechanism including a device by means of which it may be released to permit the feed rolls to move into engagement with the platen to clampthe record and work sheets against same, and means for moving the platen and clamped papers to printing position.

, 15. The combination in an accounting machine of a rotatable platen, means for guiding record sheets under and around said platen from the rear, means for guiding work sheets under said platen from the front, an apron at the rear of the platen for supporting the work sheets to the rear of the platen, means on said apron for guiding the work sheets laterally and for spacing the record sheets fromsaid work sheets, and feeding rolls for holding said work and said record sheets in engagement with the platen.

16. The combination in an accounting machine-of a platen movable to and from printing position, means for guiding record sheets under said platen from the rear, means for holding said record sheets around said platen with the front ends of the sheets in substantially vertical position, a paper table mounted in front of said platen for positioning work sheets under said platen from the front while the platen is raised from printing position, means for releasing said platen to permit it to move to printing position, and pressure rolls for automatically clamping the rec- 0rd and work sheets to the platen when it is lated relative to the record sheet while in feeding position, guiding means for guiding the work sheets to the rear of the platen and for spacing them from the record sheet, and feeding rolls for holding the record and work sheets in engagement w1th the platen.

18. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, said platen being urged toward printing position, means for holding said .platen out of printing position when it is movedto such position, means for guiding a record sheet around'said platen from the rear including devices for holding said record sheet onsaid platen, a feeding table mounted in front of said platen for guiding work sheets under said platen from the front while said'platen is out of printing position, means for releasing said platen to permit it to move to printing position, andmeans operable simultaneously with the release-of said platen 'for clamping the record sheet and work paperstothe platen to hold them firmly in position while the platen moves toward printing position.

19. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, guiding means for guiding a record strip under said platen from the rear and around the same, a collating table mounted in front of said platen over which work,

sheets may be fed under said platen from the front, collatin' means on said table for col-- lating the work sheets relative to each other and to the record strip, and feed rolls operative to clam the work sheets and record strip to the p aten while the platen is out of printing position;

20. The combination in an accounting machine of a plat'en movable to and from printing position, said platen being urged toward printing position, means for holding said platen out of printingrposi'tioma paper table movably mounted in independentl thereof for positiomng papers under said p aten from the front while it is out of printing position, means for releasing said platen to permit it to move to printing position, and pressure rolls for automatical-- ly clamping the papers to the platen (priorto its reaching its printing position, sai platen having provisions for moving said table out of position to interfere with it as said platen moves to printing position.

21. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen adapted to be lowered to and raised from printing position, a movable ont of said platen andtable for positioning papers horizontally under said platen from the front while the platen is raised, feed rolls for clamping the papers to the platen, and means for lowering the platen to printing'position, saidplaten,

as it is lowered,engaging' the tableto move it to inclined position. I

22. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen adapted to be lowered to and raised from printing position, a movable table for positioning papers horizontally under said laten from the front while the platen is raised, feed rolls for clamping the papers to the platen, means for lowering the platen to printing position, said platen, as it is lowered, engaging the table to move it to inclined position, and means operated by movement of the platen to its final printing position for moving the table out of engage ment with the platen.

23. The combination in an accounting machine of a rotatable platen adaptedto be low- M ered to and raised from printing position, feeding rolls normally urged into engagement therewith, controlling mechanism for moving the feeding rollsout of engagement with the platen and holding them in such position, a substantially horizontal feeding table in front of the platen over which work sheets may be fed under the platen-from the front while in horizontal position, said con trolling mechanism including a device by means of which it may be released to'permit the feeding rolls to move to normal position to, clamp the work sheets against the platen, and means for tilting the feeding table to inclined position as the platen is moved to printing position.

24. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, a pivoted feeding and paper positioning table normally-in 'a horizontal position, said table being positioned to be engaged by the platen and moved to an in a.

the platen as it is moved towardprinting position and means carried by the platen carriage engagin a projection on the table for moving the ta le out of enga ment with the platen as the platen approac es printing position.

'26. The combination in an accounting machine of a rotatable platen adapted to be lowered to and raised from printing. position,

feed rolls normally urged into engagement with said platen, controlling mechanism for moving said feed rolls out of engagement with the platen and holding them in such position, a combined feeding and collating table mounted in front of the platen on which work sheets may be collated while in horizontal position and positioned between the feed rolls and the platen, said controlling 10 means including a device by means of which it may be released to permit the feed rolls to move into engagement with the platen to clamp the papers thereagainst, and means for lowering the platen to printing position and simultaneously tilting the feeding and collating table.

27. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, a collating table pivotally mounted in front of the platen, means for collating work sheets on said table while it is in horizontal position, and means for moving the platen to printing position and simulta-. neously tilting the collating table.

28. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, a collating table mounted in front of the plate for collating papers face downward in horizontal position in front of I '30 the platen and under the same from the front,

feed rolls for clamping the collated papers to the platen while the platen is out of printing position, and means for moving the platen to printing position and moving the papers out of engagement with the collating table.

29. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen, a collating table mounted in front thereof and provided with collating marks thereon, and means for printing collating marks on the back of sheets on which entries are made so that said sheets may be collated relative to the marks on the table when next inserted in the machine.

30. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen, a collating table mounted in front thereof with a collating mark thereon by means of which papers may be collated relative to said platen from the front, and means for printing a collating mark on the back of the papers for use in the succeeding collating operation.

31. The combination in an accountingmachine of a platen movable to and from printing position, a collating table mounted in front of said platen with a collating mark thereon by means of which papers may be collated face downward relative to said platen from the front while the platen is out of printing position, means for clamping the collated papers to the platen while it is out of printing position, means for moving the platen to printing position, and means for printing a collating mark on the back of the papers for use in the succeeding collating operation.

32. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, feed rolls movable into and out of engagement with the platen, a horizontal table mounted in front of the platen and having a collating mark for collating papers while in'feeding relation to the platen with the feed rolls out of engagement therewith,

tilting'the table as said platen. moves to print-.

ing position.

83. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, feed rolls for clamping worksheets to said platen while it is out of printing position, and means for progressively engaging and moving over the work sheets in a direction away from where they are held and across the printing line as the platen is moved toward printing position to press the work sheets evenly about the platen, and to hold them tightly against the platen across the printing line. I

34:. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and fromprinting position, feed rolls for clamping work sheets to said platen while it is out of printing position, and sets of resiliently mounted rollers positioned so as to progressively engage the work sheets from adjacent the line where they are clamped to theiplaten by the feed rolls to the printing line to firmly and evenly press the work sheets about the platen as it is being moved to printing position and to hold them tightly across the printing line.

35. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, an upper and a lower roller mounted on a pivoted yoke, means for normally urging the yoke to a position such that.

the lower roller first engages the work sheets on the platen as the platen is moved toward printing position and the upper roller engages them as it reaches printmg position, a pivoted lever on which said yoke is mounted, and means for urging said lever toward said platen.

36. The combination in an accounting machine of a platen mounted so that it may be lowered to and raised from printing position, means for feeding work sheets about said platen while it is in raised position, means for clamping the work sheets to the platen while it is raised, and resilientlymounted rollers for engaging the work sheets as the platen is moved towards printing position, said rollers being mounted so as to'travel progresrotatably mounted upper and lower rollerson its ends, means urging said yoke to a position such that, as the platen is moved toward gage the fingers to swing them to and from.

printing position, said lower roller first engages and moves over thepapers in a direction away from where they are held by the feed rolls and away from the printing line and said upper roller subsequently engages the papers asthe platen reaches its printing position.

38. Thecombination in an accounting machine of a platen movable to and from printing position, fingers for holding work sheets against said platen,,and means for automatically moving said fingers to release the paper when the platen is moved to printing position.

39. In combination, aplaten movable to and from printing position, a hand piece adapted to-be grasped-by an operator to move the platen to and'f'rom printing position, fingers for holding work sheets against sald platen, means fornormally holding said fingers out of engagement with the work sheets, and a controllin means formoving said fingers over work 5 eets on the platen, said controlling means having a portion located adjacent the hand pieceso that when the operator grasps said hand piece to 11ft the platen from printing position he can easily grasp said portion of the controlling means to move the fingers into position to hold the papers as the laten is raised.

40. In combination, a platen movable to and from printing position, a pair of fingers for holding work sheets in engagement w1th said platen, means for normally maintaining parallel to said platen, a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on bearings adjustable on said cross shaft, a rock shaft parallel to said cross shaft, cams on the rockshaft adapted to engage the fingers to swing them to and from one another longitudinally of the platen, an operating means for rocking the shaft, and a latch for" said operating means.

43. Incombination, a platen movable to and from printing position, a cross shaft parallel to said platen, a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on bearings adjustable on said cross shaft, a rock shaft parallel to said cross shaft, cams on the rock shaft adaptedto engage the fingers to swing them to and from one another longitudinally of the platen, an

operating means for rocking the shaft, a latch for said operating means, and means for trip-- ping the latch as the platen is moved to printing position.

44. In combination, aplaten movable to and fromprinting position, a finger piece for so moving the platen, a cross shaft parallel to the platen, a pair of fingers pivoted on bearings adjustably mounted on said shaft, a rock shaft parallel to the cross shaft,

cams carried by. the rock shaft adapted to engage the fingers to move themto and from one another; longitudinally of the platen, an operating means for rocking said shaft having a thumbcpiece positioned adjacent the finger piece so that, as the operator grasps the finger piece to raise the platen, he also grasps the thumb piece to rock the shaft to move the fingers toward one another to hold work sheets in engagement with the platen.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

ROBERT L. MULLER.

said fingers out of position to engage the work sheets, means operable by asingle lever for moving both of said fingers into engagement with work sheets, a latch for holding sa d lever in position to maintain said fingers in engagement with work sheets, and means for automatically releasing the latch when the platen is moved to printing position.

41. In combination, a platen, a cross shaft parallel to said platen, a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on bearings adjustable on said cross shaft, a rock shaft parallel to said cross shaft, cams on the rock shaft adapted to en one another longitudinally of the platen, and an operating means for rocking the shaft.

42. In combination, a platen, a cross shaft 

